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Indian docs face poverty in Britain

Press Trust Of India
Posted online: Monday, January 02, 2006 at 1256 hours IST


London, January 2: A large number of overseas doctors, mostly from India, who had flocked to Britain in response to the UK National Health Services' global appeal for more staff, are facing unemployment, poverty and discrimination, a report said today.

More than 6000 doctors who passed the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test face months of hardship and many may never obtain jobs and return home penniless, UK daily 'The Independent' reported.

The report said many of the doctors who are living on the fringe flock the Sri Mahalakshmi Hindu temple in East London, every evening to get free food. A survey by the General Medical Council (GMC) shows that less than half of those who passed the PLAB test in summer 2004 found work within six months, and a quarter were still unemployed a year later. The situation is likely to be worse this year.

The British International Doctors association has accused the government of exploiting the situation by charging doctors hefty fees each time they renew their visa. NHS trusts also charge doctors hundreds of pounds to take them on for a few weeks of work experience so they can improve their chances of getting a paying job. "It is absolutely diabolical. The numbers are unbelievable. These people have come to serve the NHS and there is chaos, confusion and a total lack of care. There is no co-ordination between the department of health, the home office and the general medical council. It is totally unacceptable," Dr Prasada Rao, chairman of the association and a GP in Stoke-on-Trent, said.